Liquid for and process of generating a compound vapor as a motor power



Nrrn STATES ArnNr LIQUID FOR AND PROCESS OF GENERATING A COMPOUND VAPORAS A MOTOR POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,197, dated April 1,1884.

Application filed November 12, 1883.

To CtZZ whom it in-(Ly concern:

Be it known that l, WILLA-n L. Lownnv, a citizen of the United States,residing at Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Masfication.

The object of my invention is to gain power in engines, and to economizefuel. Any steamengine having a boiler of ordinary construction with asurface-condenser can be used.

My invention consists, first, in mixingwater slightly alkaline, but notto exceed one (1) per cent, with alcohol, either absolute, methylic, thealcohol of commerce, or of any other kind or name, jointly orseparately, their mixtures or compounds in the proportions hereinaftermentioned; secondly, in introducing the compound liquid thus formed intoboilers and vaporizing the same by heat; thirdly, in the compound vaporso generated; and, fourthly, in using said compound vapor as a motorpower. lhe proportions of the alcohols or their compounds and waterdepend on the size of the boilers and the degree of pressure required.In small b0ilers-viz., boilers used in engines of from two (2) to twenty(20) horsepower-equal parts of the alcohols, or their compounds, andwater may be used for ordinary working-pressure; but if a lighterpressure than the ordinary workingprcssure of the boiler is desired, theproportions of the alcohols or their compounds may be varied-i-. 6.,sixty (60) per cent. of water to forty per cent. of the alcohols ortheir compounds, and so on, varying the proportions of the water andalcohols or their compounds, if a still lighter pressure is desired, toninety (90) per cent. of water and ten (10) per cent. of the alcohols ortheir compounds. A larger percentage of the alcohols, their mixtures orcompounds than is herein mention ed may be used under certaincircumstances and conditions; but such use is dangerous and hazardous,and I have therefore limited the percentage to fifty per cent. as thehighest that should be used in any case.

In large boilers-i. 0., boilers in engines of (No specimens.)

twenty (20) horsepower and upward-theproportions of the liquids forordinary workingpressure are: alcohols or their com pounds, forty (40)per cent. water, sixty (60) per cent. These proportions, the same as insmaller boilers, may be varied by reducing the percentage of thealcohols or their compounds and increasin g the percentage of water,where lighter than ordinary working-pressure is necessary or desirable,until the desired pressure is obtained. The proportions of the liquids,however, must not be changed to more than ninety-five (95) per cent. ofwater or less than five (5) per cent. of the alcohols or theircompounds. In most cases, in large boilers, the liquid compound need notcontain more than ten (10) to twenty (20) per cent. of the alcohols ortheir compounds.

By varying the proportions of the alcohols or their compounds and water,as above directed, the degree of pressure can be increased ordiminished, as required. Asthe same pressure cannot always be maintainedin boilers of the same size, owing to atmospheric and other conditions,different proportions of the liquids may be found necessary in suchboilers in order to obtain a given pressure. To increase the pressure,the proportions of the alcohols or their compounds must be increased,and to diminish the pressure the proportions of the alcohols or'theircompounds must be diminished, the degree ofheat remaining the same.

the above-described compound liquid, the alcohols or their compoundswill first vaporize at a comparatively low temperature and the vaporpass into the steam-chamber. When the temperature is raised to twohundred and twelve'degrees, (212,) the steam generatedfromthewaterwillcombineandminglewith the alcoholic vapor, forming a newcompound vapor possessing the elasticity and expansion of the alcoholicvapor and the volume and tension of the steam, the elastic expansion ofthe alcoholic vapor being imparted to the steam, and the volume andtension of the steam being communicated to the alcoholic vapor. By theunion of these qualities of the respective vapors the new compound vaporwill be found to be capable of producing with the same de- Vihen heat isapplied to a boiler filled with gree of heat at least twice the pressureor expansive power of steam, and with one-half the degree of heat apressure equal to, if not greater than, steam. This result is due to thefactthat the alcoholic vapors surrounded and permeated bythesteam becomethereby superheated, and thus acquire a volume and tension nearly, ifnot quite, equal to steam. The alcoholic vapors, though superheated bythe steam, are protected thereby, so that they do not decompose, butdistill over into liquid unchanged.

The compound vapor formed as above described can be controlled andmanaged with. equal facility and safety to steam. As the compound vaporpasses into the cylinder and becomes condensed, the latent heat of thesteam is given off to the lower or alcoholic vapors, maintaining theirelastic tension, and enabling them to expand and force the pistonforward to its full stroke. The compound vapor protects the interior ofthe boiler, pipes, and cylinders from corrosion, and, being to somedegree a lubricant, assists in lubricating the cylinder while in use.After the vapor has been used, it passes into the condenser, isreliquefied, returned to the boiler, and again used as before, withoutperceptible diminution in quantity or quality. There is, therefore, noloss in the liquid, or at least so slight a loss as to beinconsiderable.

No changes in the construction of boilers suitable for generating steamis necessary or desirable.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A compound liquid to be used in engineboilers to generate a vapor fora motor power, consisting of alcohol, either absolute, methylic, thealcohol of commerce, or of any other kind or name, either jointly orseparately, their mixtures or compounds, and water in the followingproportions, viz: for small boilers-i. e. boilers of from two (2) totwenty (20) horsepower-equal parts of water and alcohol or alcohols,their mixtures or compounds; and for large boilers-22 e., boilers oftwenty (20) horse-power and upward-six (6) parts water and four (4)parts alcohol or alcohols, their mixtures or compounds, and the U orseparately, with water in equal proportions for small boilers, and forlarge boilers six (6) parts water to four (4) parts absolute or methylicalcohols, their mixtures or compounds, and modifications and variationsof such proportions, and subjecting thesame to heat in engine-boilersthe same as water is heated to generate steam, substantially asdescribed.

3. A compound vapor generated by heat in boilers from water and alcohol,either absolute, methylic, the alcohol of commerce, or of any other kindor name, either jointly or separately, their mixtures or compounds,mixed in the following proportions: in small boilers i. 6., boilers offrom two (2) to twenty (20) horse-powerequal parts of water and alcoholor alcohols, their mixtures or compounds; in large boilersi. e., boilersof twenty (20) horsepower and upward-six (6) parts water and four (4)parts alcohol or alcohols, their mixtures or compounds, and themodifications and variations of said proportions, substantially as setforth and described.

4. The improved method or process of operating steam or vapor engines,which consists in applying thereto the compound vaporherein describedand claimed, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof Iaffix my signature in- WVitnesses:

XV. H. DELAOY, GEO. M. LOOKWOOD.

